Our Yellow
Lab Kiki turns 16!
It was
a sunny, warm August morning-16 years ago when Tom and I walked downtown to the
Farmer’s Market located- at the time, next to the Orillia Opera House. We
wanted to buy some fresh, local corn, bread and tomatoes.
The
usual garden foodstuffs and home-baked goods.
There’s
no place better- or handier, than the Market.
We shopped
a bit and had our usual sausage from the cart owned by folks out in Marchmount.
Eventually,
we wandered to the far end of the market. The Andrews Street, North end.
Just
ahead of us we saw a young lady sitting on top of a wall of railroad ties. The
ties were the edging for a raised flower bed. Her legs were crossed, the right one
swinging carelessly back and forth and up and down in a nervous flight. She was
puffing continuously on a cigarette.
Beneath
her, huddling on the hot asphalt in the late morning sun was a pair of
yellowish, Labrador puppies- only a few weeks old at best.
We swooned.
We already had two cats and a mini-schnauzer at home. We couldn’t even think of
another dog!
“Those
puppies are in the hot sun.”- I said as we stood there.
“The reply
was terse- “I’ve only been here a few minutes!”
There was
no water and no shade. Tom and I looked at each other. We couldn’t possibly
have another dog- especially a puppy. Our lives were just too busy.
“How
old are they?”- I asked.
“They were
born on July 25th. The mother was a yellow lad. The Dad a Black Lab.”
She
offered the information freely then added- “I just don’t know what I am going
to do if I can’t get rid of these dogs today!”
She
puffed and puffed and shook her leg even more.
Tom and
I could plainly tell having these puppies was a great inconvenience for her.
We
stood there for a few moments, concerned for the pups’ welfare, when suddenly a
pair of arms pushed between us and snapped up one of the pups- a male, and
swiftly walked away. We turned to see who it was but the man was lost in the
crowd. The young lady didn’t blink an eye she just puffed some more.
In
another moment- without even turning to Tom, I snatched up the other puppy.
We
turned and walked away.
What
the hell would we do a new pup? Maybe we
could find her a good home.
Yes,
that is what we would do. Find a good home for the little sweetheart who was already
snuggling in close to my chest, whimpering just a bit.
“You’re
Okay now…” I whispered in one soft ear.
We
walked home.
Unbeknownst
to us, we had already fallen in love.
Fate
had swooped in and pushed me forward to scoop up the puppy.
Well,
she couldn’t stay with this person- could she?
What
might happen if she wasn’t able to “get rid of the puppy”?
I
shuddered to think.
Once we
got home, Tom offered a fresh bowl of water to the youngster.
Our
Schnauzer Samantha sniffed at her.
The
cats were indifferent.
We made
a couple of calls.
“Nope,
we’re not ready for a dog- yet!” was the reply to both calls we made.
Then, we
thought about a neighbour who had recently told us she was thinking about
getting a dog. That particular morning Nancy she was overseeing a carwash- in aid
of a local girls hockey team, in the parking lot of a nearby plaza. We drove
over.
The
kids screamed when they saw the puppy.
We were
hopeful but the answer was no.
As we drove
back home we knew our hearts were melting.
We
looked at each other and realized- this puppy was home.
She was
ours- forever.
Back at
the house we re-introduced our new arrival to Samantha. In a few moments the
two of them were running around the yard.
The
cats were curious but indifferent- still.
Now, we
had to shop for a new puppy who was taking up residence at Pine Tree House. A
crate, food and most important of all- a trip to the vet.
He
could see us later that afternoon.
It
turned out she was healthy and just about 5 weeks old. We knew her birthdate
but little else.
What
about a name?
Later
that day it was carved in stone.
Kiki.
Waikiki
actually, for she was the colour of the sand on Waikiki Beach, a favourite
destination
of ours.
So,
Kiki it was and is to this day 16 years later!
Kiki is
still going strong.
We love
her to bits as we do all our animals- past and present.
Kiki
has seen them all with the exception of our original Samantha- an Irish Setter,
who never made the trip to Orillia.
Felines
Max, Lucky and our Darling Luma who passed a couple of years ago at 10 from
cancer, all knew Kiki and she knew them.
Kiki
was trained in part by our first Schnauzer Sam and now loves to be with her
sister Missy, our Schnauzer of 7 years.
In fact
when Samantha died, there was a period of time when Kiki was the lone canine in
the house. She mourned as did we.
Soon
after, our cat Max passed and Lucky- our tabby, was alone too. We thought about
another Schnauzer but always thought it was just too soon.
We
still missed Sam way too much to share our love with another dog.
Then,
one December day when I was walking Kiki down a snow-covered trail near our
house, there was a man and his young son walking a Schnauzer just ahead. As
they approached Kiki was so excited.
This
Schnauzer was a carbon copy of Samantha.
Same
colouring. Same disposition.
Kiki
was so happy.
She barked
and turned and looked up at me.
We knew
she missed Sam too.
With
tears in my eyes, I explained to the man and his son why Kiki was so excited
and why I was so emotional.
Kiki
looked up at me again with those beautiful brown eyes of hers and she told me-
it was time to get another Schnauzer…
When Tom
arrived home from a flight, I told him what had happened and he agreed- not
without a few tears, that it was indeed the time.
One
day, we brought Missy home from “Whiskers”.
So,
Miss Kiki is 16.
She is
the most wonderful dog.
As
yellow as the day we got her. Sometimes a small strip of black from her Dad peeks
through the blonde hair along the length of her tail.
In
summer she bleaches out to a whitish-blonde.
In fact
we call her “Blondie” at times.
She is a
very happy girl.
Loving.
Attentive.
Friendly.
We have
had some medical concerns.
She sprained
a leg during the first week she was home, tumbling in the yard with Samantha!
The
cast on her leg stayed in place for about two days.
When
she was nine we started to see Liver problems. The vet we had been using for
more than Kiki’s nine years was ready to write her off.
“She’s
had a good life.”- He said.
Not
good enough for us.
That’s
when we found Dr. Stephen Choles at Barrie Animal Hospital.
A
naturopath vet.
A few
remedies.
A
change in diet and Kiki was doing better.
In fact
at 16 years old her physical a few weeks back, told us her liver levels were
lower than last year and “normal” for her.
We are
happy.
There’s
a small heart murmur- but nothing to worry about right now. There is medication
if things progress.
She has
some arthritis in her hind quarters.
She looks
like she’s in pain when she tries to lie down but she never whines or winces.
“She’s
stoic!”- says Doctor Choles. “You’ll never know when things are wrong. She
protects you. She will never let you know!”
How
true!
Even
though she is 16, Dr. Choles says to let her run and walk all she wants. It’s
keeping her mobile.
I’ll
say!
She
still does 13 stairs and jumps onto the bed.
Kiki is
amazing!
She
loves to go for walks- even in the heat of summer.
We try to
pass a day by when the heat from the pavement is unbearable but Kiki is
adamant, so we go a couple of blocks with a few stops for a refreshing drink of
water along the way. I make a cup with my hands and Tom pours in some water.
When
Tom or I are not feeling well or he’s snoozing from the jetlag of a long
flight, Kiki is there, snuggling up close.
Watching
out for us.
Being
there.
Loving
us.
Her
eyes tell the story.
There
is something so special and “other-worldly” about those beautiful, brown, puppy eyes. It is difficult to explain but it
makes me all emotional to think of how she looks at us.
...and
her puppy kisses.
Pure
ambrosia!
Always
freely given and in abundance.
So, my
Dear Kiki- sweet 16.
Your
Dads can’t believe it.
People
who ask can’t believe it either.
“My! She’s
in good shape!” they say.
She’s a
little thinner these days.
It
comes with age.
She’s down
4 pounds from last year.
Dr.
Choles has switched her food around and we are being extra diligent, seeing she
eats- and finishes her food, twice a day.
Happy Birthday
Dear Kiki- and many more.
When
she was 10 I whispered in her ear one night before bed.
“Kiki…”-
I whispered softly, “You have to stay with your Dads until you’re 20- at least.
Then,
we’ll talk.”
So far
she’s right on schedule
